Alexander Medina Explained

Alexander Medina
Full Name:Alexander Jesús Medina Reobasco
Birth Date:8 August 1978
Birth Place:Salto, Uruguay
Height:1.79 m
Position:Striker
Years1:1995–1996
Years2:1996–1998
Years3:1998–1999
Caps3:7
Goals3:0
Years4:2000–2001
Caps4:27
Goals4:7
Years5:2002–2003
Caps5:31
Goals5:22
Years6:2004–2005
Caps6:63
Goals6:46
Years7:2005–2007
Caps7:47
Goals7:6
Years8:2007–2008
Caps8:30
Goals8:2
Years9:2008–2009
Caps9:20
Goals9:6
Years10:2009
Caps10:13
Goals10:0
Years11:2010
Caps11:22
Goals11:5
Years12:2011
Caps12:8
Goals12:4
Years13:2011–2014
Caps13:37
Goals13:13
Years14:2014–2015
Caps14:37
Goals14:3
Nationalyears1:2006
Nationalcaps1:1
Nationalgoals1:0
Manageryears1:2016–2017
Managerclubs1:Nacional (youth)
Manageryears2:2018
Managerclubs2:Nacional
Manageryears3:2019–2021
Managerclubs3:Talleres
Manageryears4:2022
Managerclubs4:Internacional
Manageryears5:2022–2023
Managerclubs5:Vélez Sarsfield
Manageryears6:2023–2024
Managerclubs6:Granada

Alexander Jesús Medina Reobasco (born 8 August 1978) is a Uruguayan football manager and former player who played as a striker.

Medina is often nicknamed Cacique (Chief) due to his command inside the field during his playing career.[1]

Playing career

Club

Born in Salto, Medina began his career with local side Ferrocarril de Salto. After representing Fritsa de Tacuarembó, he made his professional debuts with Huracán Buceo in 1998.

Medina subsequently represented Central Español and Liverpool Montevideo, finishing the 2003 season as the top scorer. He moved to Nacional for the 2004 season, and was again the league's top scorer with 26 goals.[2]

In August 2005, Medina moved abroad and joined La Liga side Cádiz.[3] He featured sparingly in his first season, as his side suffered relegation, and appeared more regularly in his second, as the club narrowly missed out promotion.

On 31 August 2007, Medina signed for Racing Ferrol also in the Spanish second tier.[4] A first-choice, he only scored three goals as the Galicians suffered relegation.

Medina returned to his home country and Nacional in June 2008, but left the club in August of the following year to sign for Arsenal de Sarandí.[5] He switched teams and countries again in January 2010, after agreeing to a deal with Unión Española,[6] but returned to his home country for the 2011 with River Plate Montevideo.

In 2011, Medina returned to Nacional for a third spell.[7] Initially a starter, he fell down the pecking order during the 2013 season, and moved to Fenix in August 2014.[8] He retired in the following year, aged 37.

International

Medina made his full international debut for Uruguay on 1 March 2006, coming on as a late substitute for Diego Forlán in a 1–2 friendly match against England.[9]

Managerial career

Nacional

In July 2016, Medina returned to his former club Nacional, as a manager of the youth setup.[10] On 12 December of the following year, he was named manager of the first team in the place of Martín Lasarte.[11]

Medina led Nacional to the Championship play-off in his first season, but lost to eventual champions Peñarol. On 7 December 2018, he resigned.[12]

Talleres

On 6 June 2019, Medina replaced departing Juan Pablo Vojvoda at the helm of Talleres in the Argentine top tier.[13] In his first season, he qualified the club to the Copa Sudamericana, and led the side to an impressive third place finish in the 2021 campaign; he also reached the Final of the 2019–20 Copa Argentina, but lost on penalties to Boca Juniors.

On 23 December 2021, Medina left Talleres as his contract was due to expire.[14]

Internacional

On 27 December 2021, Medina was appointed manager of Campeonato Brasileiro Série A side Internacional on a one-year contract.[15] He was sacked the following 15 April, after a 1–1 draw with Paraguayan side Guaireña.[16]

Vélez Sarsfield

On 24 May 2022, Medina agreed to become the manager of Vélez Sarsfield, returning to Argentina after nearly six months.[17] He left the club on a mutual agreement the following 26 February.[18]

Granada

On 27 November 2023, Medina replaced Paco López at the helm of La Liga side Granada.[19] He was dismissed on 19 March 2024, after winning one of his 14 games in charge.[20]

Managerial statistics

Managerial record by team and tenure
TeamNat.FromToRecord
Nacional12 December 20177 December 2018[21]
Talleres6 June 201923 December 2021[22]
Internacional27 December 202115 April 2022
Vélez Sarsfield24 May 202226 February 2023
Granada27 November 202319 March 2024
Career total

Honours

Player

Nacional

2005, 2008–09, 2011–12

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Por que o apelido do novo técnico do Inter é 'Cacique'?. Why the nickname of the new manager of Inter is 'Chief'?. UOL Esporte. pt-BR. 28 December 2021. 28 December 2021.
  2. Web site: EL BAÚL DE LOS RECUERDOS: EL CACIQUE MEDINA. THE BURDEN OF MEMORIES: THE CHIEF MEDINA. ForoBolso.uy. es. 10 August 2019. 28 December 2021.
  3. Web site: El Cádiz ha fichado a diez jugadores para no sufrir. Cádiz signed ten players to not suffer. Diario AS. es. 11 August 2005. 28 December 2021.
  4. Web site: El Cacique Medina ya es jugador racinguista. The Chief Medina is already a racinguista. Diario AS. es. 31 August 2007. 28 December 2021.
  5. Web site: Uruguayan Striker Alexander Medina Joins Arsenal de Sarandi From Nacional. Goal. 21 August 2009. 28 December 2021.
  6. Web site: Unión Española confirma fichaje de refuerzo uruguayo. Unión Española confirm the signing of Uruguayan addition. La Tercera. es. 31 January 2010. 28 December 2021.
  7. Web site: Nacional: definen, Farías o Boghossian. https://web.archive.org/web/20120605073822/http://www.tenfieldigital.com.uy/TenfielDigital/servlet/hntdide?0,0,5%2F,1,73489,1,0,0. Nacional: define, Farías or Boghossian. Tenfield. es. 8 August 2011. 5 June 2012. 28 December 2021.
  8. Web site: Fénix: «Cacique» de Capurro. Fénix: Capurro's "Chief". Tenfield. es. 14 August 2014. 28 December 2021.
  9. Web site: England 2–1 Uruguay. BBC Sport. 1 March 2006. 28 December 2021.
  10. Web site: Exclusivo: Medina de regreso. Exclusive: Medina returning. Tenfield. es. 10 July 2016. 28 December 2021.
  11. Web site: El exfutbolista Alexander 'Cacique' Medina, nuevo entrenador del Nacional. Former footballer Alexander 'Chief' Medina, new manager of Nacional. EFE. es. 12 December 2017. 28 December 2021.
  12. Web site: Alexander Medina renunció a Nacional. Alexander Medina resigned from Nacional. ESPN. es. 7 December 2018. 28 December 2021.
  13. Web site: Alexander Medina, nuevo DT de Talleres. Alexander Medina, new manager of Talleres. TyC Sports. es. 6 June 2019. 28 December 2021.
  14. Web site: Cacique Medina dejó Talleres: ¿va a San Lorenzo o al Inter?. Cacique Medina left Talleres: will he go to San Lorenzo or Inter?. Olé. es. 23 December 2021. 28 December 2021.
  15. Web site: Alexander Medina assume o comando técnico do Inter. Alexander Medina takes over Inter. SC Internacional. pt-BR. 27 December 2021. 28 December 2021.
  16. Web site: Alexander Medina deixa o comando técnico do Inter. Alexander Medina leaves Inter. SC Internacional. pt-BR. 15 April 2022. 17 April 2022.
  17. Web site: Vélez tiene entrenador: Alexander Medina acordó su llegada . Vélez have a manager: Alexander Medina agreed to his arrival . 24 May 2022 . TyC Sports . Spanish.
  18. Web site: El Cacique Medina dejó de ser el técnico de Vélez. Cacique Medina left as manager of Vélez. TyC Sports. es. 26 February 2023. 26 February 2023.
  19. Web site: Comunicado Oficial Alexander Medina, nuevo entrenador del Granada CF. Official announcement Alexander Medina, new manager of Granada CF. Granada CF. es. 27 November 2023. 27 November 2023.
  20. News: Comunicado Oficial Alexander Medina. Official announcement Alexander Medina. Granada CF. es. 19 March 2024. 19 March 2024.
  21. Web site: Confira os números da carreira de Alexander Medina, técnico anunciado pelo Internacional. Know the numbers of the career of Alexander Medina, manager announced by Internacional. Lance!. pt-BR. 27 December 2021. 28 December 2021.
  22. Web site: Los números de Alexander Medina en Talleres. The numbers of Chief Medina in Talleres. es. 27 December 2021. 28 December 2021.